images

Constellations of Camelopardalis and Auriga

by

A.Fujii/David Malin Images/Novapix

Reference

a-cst36-00001

Date

2008-11-01

Camelopardalis (the Giraffe, sometimes given as Camelopardis) is aptly named, both for the stick figure outlined above, which hints the outline of a giraffe's legs and sloping back, and for huge extent of constellation as it wanders over the North Celestial Pole, covering over 70 degrees. This meandering construction is probably the work of the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in about 1613 and for its size (757 square degrees) it contains remarkably few bright stars. Top of image the brightest star is the Pole star.